Australian students at U of S for Aboriginal exchange

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The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) is currently hosting three Australian students from the University of Canberra (U of C) as part of its first-ever Aboriginal student exchange.

The exchange was initiated by Jeanine Leane, a Wirradjuri woman and the academic co-ordinator at the Ngunnawal Centre, U of C. She feels strongly about "moving Aboriginal students around the world and linking up with others who have similar colonial backgrounds. It is very important that Aboriginal people with similar colonial experiences meet, share our stories, celebrate our resilience, and gather strength."

In what she calls a post-colonial era, Leane described education as "one of the crucial means by which Indigenous peoples can regain and reclaim control over our lands and our lives, as well as recognition of our rights. If Indigenous students are able to participate in exchanges with other Indigenous students, much can be learned from alternative approaches presented by host institutions and communities. As well, students will return home with a heightened awareness of the strengths of their own culture."

Describing the exchange as "groundbreaking," Leane said "This is more than just an academic thing-it's cultural."

Kurt Tishler, director of the U of S International Student Office, is delighted with the exchange and describes it as "just the thing we needed to encourage our Aboriginal students to go overseas and rub shoulders with other Aboriginal students."

Leane is impressed by the number of Aboriginal students at the U of S (about 10 per cent of the student population), and by the number of Native Studies courses that are available. However, she thinks the university is less proactive with regard to Aboriginal people than the U of C.

"I think our students will come home with a heightened awareness and appreciation of their own program," she said. According to Leane, courses offered at the U of C are very proactive. The university provides special programs that are not available at other universities, and also provides a lot of scholarships.

The Ngunnawal Centre where Leane works is a good example. Created for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the U of C, the centre offers a wide range of courses in communication and education, management and technology, as well as science and design. Leane is responsible for student support and teaching for the centre's Foundation program, which helps prepare Aboriginal students for entry into university.

Leane is currently developing an Aboriginal studies major at the U of C, but said building support for Aboriginal students is the most important focus of her work. "Even if you go to university at home, it's a bit of an exchange program because it is such a different environment from what we know," she said.

Kathleen Makela, director of the Aboriginal Students' Centre at the U of S, admires the Foundation program and says it is "shameful" that the U of S does not have a similar program to facilitate access for Aboriginal students.

Makela is also envious of some of the funding that is available for Aboriginal student in Australia. For example, Ab Study is a government allowance based on income that helps pay for education. There is also a tutorial program called the Aboriginal Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ATLAS) that is funded by the federal government. ATLAS provides two hours of free tutoring per week per subject for each Aboriginal student. Leane said ATLAS really helps to boost the confidence of Aboriginal students and make them more successful at university.

Tracey Bunda, director of the Ngunnawal Centre, was instrumental in negotiating the exchange with University of Saskatchewan International and arranging for supplementary funding for the Canberra students while they are here. Between the U of C International and the Ngunnawal Centre, each of the students received nearly $5,000.

Even with this financial assistance, Leane had to choose students who could aford to live overseas for four months. She also wanted students who were at least third year with a proven academic track record. She selected Peter Pinnington, David Radoll, and Jay Kickett.

Pinnington, a member of the Ngarrindjeri people in South Australia, is working towards a community education degree with a community development major focusing on community advocacy, personal counselling, and health promotion. Pinnington has extensive experience in the field of community development and designed an Aboriginal community worker's course in 1980 that is still running today. While at the U of S, Pinnington is taking classes in Native Studies.

David Radoll is a member of the Awan people in Northern New South Wales. He is currently completing a bachelor of information technology with a major in management. He is also employed as a computer programmer by the Department of Defense in Canberra. While at the U of S, Radoll is taking classes in commerce and Native studies. His wife Kim is taking a break from teaching elementary school so that she can be here with him.

Jay Kickett, a Noongar man, is working towards his bachelor of management. While at the U of S, he is taking classes in commerce. Kickett came with his fiancee Amy. Being very sports-oriented, Kickett plans to join some local teams and is very interested in starting up and/or teaching Australian rules football.

Jeanine Leane is excited about the positive experiences she anticipates her students will have at the U of S and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the U of S students next year.

While the exchange cannot be restricted just to Aboriginal students, both Kathleen Makela and Leane hope the students selected by the U of S to take part in the exchange will be Aboriginal.